Recognizing Wellens’ syndrome, a warning sign of critical proximal LAD artery stenosis and impending anterior myocardial infarction

Abstract

Wellens’ syndrome, also known as LAD coronary T-wave syndrome or the ‘widow maker’, is a pre-infarction syndrome with non-classical ischemic ECG changes and unremarkable cardiac biomarkers. This syndrome continues to be a ‘can't miss’ for the clinician as delay in urgent angiography and intervention can result in anterior myocardial infarction, left ventricular dysfunction, arrhythmias, and death. We describe a case followed by a discussion of identification criteria and clinical implications.

Keywords

• left anterior descending artery
• Wellen
• anterior myocardial infarction
• Ischemia
• electrocardiogram
• T-wave